Solvent Cemented Joint Issues
Many people believe that PVC pipe is very forgiving and anyone can install the pipe. This is true as long as long as the rules are followed. The rules are that the pipe end must be square-cut, deburred, and chamfered. Two heavy coats of cement are to be applied to the end of the pipe and one light coat to the inside of the socket. The pipe must then be fully inserted all the way to the bottom of the socket and then held in place for at least 30 seconds until the cement sets up sufficiently to hold the pipe in place, otherwise the pipe will back itself out of the tapered socket.
A common issue with PVC installation arises when a job is completed in a rushed manner, often in large-scale development with tight timelines. These hasty installations can lead to serious consequences for property owners.
The pipe shown above was short inserted into both elbow joints and there were areas of the joint where there was little or no bonding between the pipe and the fitting socket.